JP2014142970A - Method and system for integrated medical tracking - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for tracking medical information.SOLUTION: A system for processing data provided by medical devices (10) is provided. The system comprises the medical device (10) comprising a memory device (230) configured to store medical device information. The system also comprises an information system (350) connected to the medical device (10). The information system (350) comprises at least one server (360) configured to receive at least a portion of the medical device information from the memory device (230) of the medical device (10). The server (360) is also configured to use the medical device information so as to process at least one of patient data, prescription data, and stock/ordering data.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 299,629, filed Jun. 20, 2001, it is the full text of which is expressly incorporated herein be reference.

  This patent application is entitled US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 836,781 entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed Apr. 17, 2001 and “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed Jul. 22, 2001. Each of these is related to US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 887,789, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

  The present invention relates to a method and system for tracking medical information. In particular, the present invention relates to tracking information provided by medical devices including electromechanical surgical devices.

  Technological innovation in the medical device field is an ongoing process that takes advantage of general technical and scientific trends and developments. Medical devices currently include memory elements that store information that can be used to help in medical procedures. For example, information related to the medical device and / or accessory device may be stored, such as, among other things, the device / accessory device serial number and the device / accessory device identifier. In addition to device / attachment device specification information, usage related data (eg, the number of times the device / attachment device has been used) may also be stored in a new generation of medical devices, particularly surgical devices.

  In one example, a circular staple surgical accessory can be used with an electromechanical surgical device. The electromechanical surgical device can read information associated with the circular staple attachment device, such as an attachment device serial number and an attachment device identifier indicating the circular staple. One purpose of gathering this information may be to determine whether the surgical device and / or accessory device is being used above a threshold limit that requires replacement or maintenance. If the threshold is reached, the electromechanical surgical device can generate an audio and / or image message indicating the condition and not function until it is properly replaced and / or maintained. it can. US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 836,781 entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed Apr. 17, 2001 and US Patent Application No. 09 entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed Jun. 22, 2001. No. 887,789, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discusses other examples of medical devices that collect and store such information (eg, electromechanical surgical devices). And refer to it. Another purpose of gathering such information is to determine which one of many algorithms should be used to drive the surgical device and / or accessory device, eg, based on the accessory device identifier. Can be.

The management of hospitals and other healthcare providers is undergoing technological innovations and evolutions similar to the technological advances that are occurring in medical devices. These management innovations are particularly relevant to the field of information systems. The hospital and / or medical information system tracks, for example, patient information, prescriptions, inventory, and ordering data. These systems have several advantages. For example, patient information systems provide more accurate patient tracking, record keeping, and billing. The prescription information system automates the tracking process that provides sufficient control and accuracy for prescription issuance, filling, and dispensed medication. The inventory and order information system automates and facilitates the ordering of new drug inventory and provides comprehensive order tracking and analysis. Various hospital medical information systems have improved medical management, but due to the limited integration of systems and data, many benefits have not been realized.

According to an exemplary embodiment of summary the present invention provides a method and system for integrating data to track medical devices and hospital and medical information systems. Long time for more accurate medical tracking by automatically collecting medical device data and integrating with hospital and / or other medical information systems to provide a more complete, integrated and accurate data collection The present invention solves this urgent need.

  In an exemplary embodiment, to link medical device data with other hospital data such as patient and billing information, the present invention may include one or more medical devices (eg, electromechanical surgical devices). ) To the hospital information system. The integration of data in this exemplary embodiment may allow for detailed accounting from which devices were used and how much to treat patients. This information can be kept as part of the patient file and can be used for billing and / or insurance purposes. Furthermore, this integrated tracking of data allows hospitals and / or other health care providers to more accurately determine and / or estimate requests for maintenance and replacement of the device. The integration of medical device data with the hospital information system also allows for automatic inventory tracking and ordering that can automatically maintain a threshold inventory of medical devices, accessory devices, and / or other items.

  In another embodiment, the present invention links one or more medical devices (eg, electromechanical surgical devices) with an integrated information system that functions as a repository for medical device data. The integrated information system can also be linked to other hospital and / or medical information systems, thereby allowing medical device data to be integrated with other data, such as patient data described above. This alternative embodiment does not directly integrate medical device data with a hospital and / or medical information system, but rather one or more individual medical devices that are sequentially linked to other hospitals and / or medical information systems. It differs from the exemplary embodiment in that it implements a data repository and / or information system.

  One aspect of the present invention is a technique for linking a medical device to an information system. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the medical device may incorporate a processor, memory, and data storage. The medical device data can be stored locally by the medical device and thereafter with one or more other hospitals and / or medical information systems at intervals, or in real time or approximately in real time. Can be sent for integration. In another embodiment related to this aspect of the invention, the medical device data is transmitted directly and is not stored locally.

An illustration of one embodiment of a medical device (in this example, an electromechanical surgical device) that can electronically track information and link to a hospital and / or medical information system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. It is. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electromechanical device and connection mechanism for connecting a medical device with a server and / or information system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network topology illustrating the relationship between servers, storage devices, and medical devices located in various rooms of a hospital, according to one embodiment of the invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network topology representing an interconnection of a first medical device and a server via an information network without using an intervening second medical device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. is there. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example network topology representing interconnections between medical devices, hospitals and / or medical information systems, and automated ordering systems, according to one embodiment of the invention.

According to an exemplary embodiment Detailed Description The present invention, a method and system for automatically integrating the medical device data using one or more hospitals and / or medical information system is provided. The present invention relates to medical devices including surgical devices and accessory devices that electronically collect and / or determine information. US Patent Application No. 09 / 723,715 entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed on November 28, 2000, and US Patent Application License entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed on April 17, 2001 No. 09 / 836,781 and US Patent Application No. 09 / 887,789 entitled “Electro-Mechanical Surgical Device” filed June 22, 2001 are each expressly incorporated herein in their entirety. However, electromechanical surgical devices, such as the devices disclosed therein, are some such medical devices. This patent application refers to any such medical device, and it should not constitute the application of the present invention to limit the present invention to only the devices disclosed in the above-mentioned patent applications. Those skilled in the art will understand that. Another medical device may include surgical and non-surgical medical instruments and accessory devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a medical device (in this example, an electromechanical surgical device) that can electronically track information and link to a hospital and / or medical information system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. The exemplary medical device 10 includes, for example, a remote output console 12, which includes a housing 14, which has a front operation panel 15 with a display device 16 and indicators 18a, 18b. The flexible handle 20 extends from the housing 14 and can be detachably connected by the first connector 22. The distal end 24 of the flexible handle 20 may include a second connector 26 configured to detachably secure a surgical instrument and / or accessory device to the distal end 24 of the flexible handle 20. For example, a surgical instrument or accessory device is a surgical stapler, a surgical cutting device, a surgical staple cutting device, a linear surgical stapler, a linear surgical staple cutting device, a circular surgical staple, a circular surgical staple cutting device , Surgical clip applier, surgical clip ligator, surgical fixation device, vessel expanding device, lumen expanding device, scalpel , A fluid delivery device, or any other type of medical device. US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 324,451, issued as US Pat. No. 6,315,184 entitled “A Stapling Device for Use with an Electromechanical Driver Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments”, “Electromechanical US Patent Application No. 09 / 324,452 entitled “Driver Device for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments” and US Patent No. 6,264,087 entitled “Automated Surgical Stapling System” No. 09 / 351,534, US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 510,926, issued as US Pat. No. 6,348,061, entitled “A Vessel and Lumen Expander Attachment for Use with an Electromechanical Driver Device”. US patent application entitled `` Electromechanical Driver and Remote Surgical Instruments Attachment Having Computer Assisted Control Capabilities '' 09 / 510,927, US Patent Application No. 09 / 510,931 entitled “A Tissue Stapling Attachment for Use with an Electromechanical Driver Device”, “A Fluid Deliver Mechanism for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments” US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 510,932, entitled “A Fluid Delivery for Use with Anastomosing, Stapling, and Resecting Instruments”, US Ser. No. 09 / 510,933, entitled “Surgical Device with Inttacorporally Attachable Instrument” US patent application 09/09 / 887,789, US patent application 09 / 873,682 entitled “Parallel Jaw Device For Use With an Electro-Mechanical Driver Device”, US entitled “Linear Stapler / Cutter Device” Patent application 09 / 999,546, entitled “A Vessel and Lumen Expander Attachment For Use With an Electro-Mechanical Driver Device” Country patent application Ser. No. 09/9
No. 90,067, US Patent Application No. 10 / 094,051 entitled “Right Angle Linear Surgical Cutter” and US Patent Application No. 10 entitled “Flexible Drive Shaft for Coupling a Surgical Attachment to an Electro-Mechanical Driver Device”. No./099,634, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, some of which are described, for example, in these.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electromechanical device and connection configuration for connecting a medical device with a server and / or information system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The control device 200 is provided on the housing 14 of the remote output console 12 and is configured to control the function and operation of any surgical instrument or accessory device associated with the electromechanical surgical device 10 and the flexible handle 20. The A storage device 205 is provided and may include memory elements such as ROM element 206 and / or RAM element 207. ROM element 206 is in electrical and logical communication with controller 200 via line 208. The RAM element 207 may include any type of random access memory such as, for example, a magnetic storage element, an optical storage element, a magneto-optical storage element, an electronic storage element, and the like. Similarly, ROM element 206 may include any type of read-only memory, such as a removable memory element, such as a PC-Card or PCMCIA type element. ROM element 206 and RAM element 207 may be embodied as a single device or as separate devices. A wired remote control unit (“RCU”) 210 may be electrically and logically connected to the control unit 200 via line 212. A wireless RCU 215 may be provided, which may communicate via a wireless link 216 with a receiving / transmitting device 217 connected to the transceiver 220 via line 218. The transceiver 220 may be electrically and logically connected to the controller 200 via line 222.

  Memory device 230 may be included in a surgical instrument and / or accessory device associated with the electromechanical surgical device described herein as an example of a medical device utilized in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The instrument or accessory device memory device 230 may be configured to store, for example, serial number data 235, accessory device type identifier (“ID”) data 240, and usage data 245. The memory device 230 may further store other and / or alternative data. The surgical instrument and / or accessory device memory device 230 is electrically and logically connected to the controller 200 via, for example, a data transfer cable line 250 sealed within the flexible handle 20 of the remote console 10. obtain. Since the memory device of the surgical instrument and / or the accessory device can directly store the collected data, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is directly connected to the server without connection to the remote console 10 as will be described later. Behaves as a medical device that can be connected to

  According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the medical device may include a wired and / or wireless connection between the medical device and the server and / or information system. As shown in FIG. 2, a wired connection between the remote console 10 and the server 260 may exist via a communication line 262. The medical device can also connect to the server using a wireless connection 264. For example, the medical device can include, among other things, a wireless transmitter or transceiver 270 that can communicate with the receiver or transceiver 280 of the server 260. The transmitter or transceiver 270 on the medical device side of the wireless connection 264 may be electrically and / or logically connected to the controller 200 via line 272. The receiver or transceiver 280 on the server 260 side of the wireless connection 264 may be electrically and / or logically connected to the server 260 via line 282. The wireless link 264 may be, for example, a radio frequency link, an optical link such as an infrared link, or any other form of wireless communication link.

  In an exemplary embodiment, a healthcare provider (eg, a hospital) may use many medical devices such as the remote console described above. The medical device may be placed throughout the medical facility. For example, these medical devices can be located in a variety of different rooms in a hospital.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example network topology illustrating the relationship between servers, storage devices, and medical devices located in various rooms of a hospital according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one or more medical devices 310a-310d, 315a-315d may be installed in a hospital or other health care provider facility. These medical devices 310a-310d, 315a-315d can move (i.e., easily move) or can be fixed (e.g., attached to a wall or floor of a room). Mobile medical devices can be placed in various rooms 305a-305d within a medical facility and can be moved to another room 305a-305d when needed. On the other hand, fixed medical devices can be dedicated to use in specific rooms 305a-305d. The medical rooms 305a-305d can function as general treatment or diagnostic rooms or have specific specialties such as obstetrics / gynecology (ob / gyn), urology, general surgery, colon / rectum, etc. Can be assigned to. The medical devices 310a to 310d and 315a to 315d can be connected to the server 360 by various connection mechanisms described later.

  Server 360 may be one or more devices including at least one processor (not shown, part of 365), memory (not shown, part of 365), and possibly storage device 370. Typically, server 360 will be one or more computer systems 365 that may include various processing and storage devices 370. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, server 360 may already be part of an existing computer network 350 of a hospital and / or other healthcare provider, and hospital and / or other It can be the host of all or part of a medical information system (not shown). For example, an existing hospital server 360 may include patient data that can be accessed by a terminal or client computer device located within the hospital. Patient data that the server 360 includes or accesses may be part of a patient management or billing system (not shown). The server communicates with client devices (eg, medical devices) 315a-315d via the information network 350. Thus, for example, both server 360 and clients 315a-315d will include a suitable network connection device, such as an Ethernet network interface card or built-in Ethernet functionality. The information network 350 with which the server communicates with clients includes, among others, the Internet, the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”), the local area network (“LAN”), the wide area network (“WAN”), and the metropolitan area. It can be any information network such as a network (“MAN”) and a wireless network.

  In the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 3, the first medical devices 310a-310d, such as surgical and / or medical accessory devices, are second medical devices 315a-315d, such as remote consoles and the like. Connected to the control device. The first medical devices 310a-310d may store data such as serial number and device type. The first medical devices 310a-310d may also store usage information such as, for example, instructions regarding whether the device has been used and / or the number of times the device has been used (eg, a counter). The second medical device 315a-315d can then read some or all of the stored information, then the date and time stamp, the first and / or second medical device in a predetermined process. Additions such as instructions on the length of time operated, instructions for the department using the device, instructions for the treatment room using the device, the serial number of the second medical device, usage information about the second medical device, etc. Data may be generated and / or stored. As shown in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the second medical devices 315 a to 315 d then transmit medical data to the server 360 via the information network 350.

  The medical devices 315a-315d may be connected to the information network 350 via a number of communication facilities such as, for example, fixed wiring connections 335, separable wired connections 330, and wireless connections 325, 340. Fixed wiring connection 335 has a cable or other connection directly to medical device 315c. In this connection, the communication line is not easily separable and therefore becomes a “fixed wiring” characteristic of the connection. Fixed wire connection 335 has become popular in early network connection devices, but is not very common today. The separable wired connection 330 also has a cable or other connection directly to the medical device 315b, although this cable connection usually plugs the cable or other wire connection into a port on the medical device. Since it is in a form, it can be easily separated. A cable or other wire connection can also be connected to the connection port 300 in the room 305b, which is typically hardwired to the information network 350. The wireless connections 325, 340 have transceivers or other devices that can transmit and / or receive wireless signals at both ends of the wireless connection. The medical device 315a can have a transceiver (not shown) embedded in the device and can establish a wireless link 325 to another transceiver 320 in the medical room 305a. The transceiver 320 of the medical room 305 a can be fixedly wired to the information network 350. Because the information network 350 includes a transceiver (not shown) located outside the medical room 305d, the medical device 315d can also establish a wireless link 340 to the information network 350. The medical device 315d may also bypass the information network 350 and establish a wireless link 345 directly with the computer 365 and associated transceiver (not shown) of the hospital and / or medical information system server 360. Regardless of establishing a wireless connection, the wireless links 325, 340, 345 and signals may be optical (eg, infrared), radio frequency links, or any other form of wireless communication.

  Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment, the first medical device 310a-310d, such as a surgical instrument and / or accessory device connected to a second medical device 315a-315d, such as a remote console, is a book. Depending on another embodiment of the invention, a direct connection to server 360 may be made. This connection described above may be fixed wiring, wired and / or wireless. Wireless connections are the most beneficial of these connections as they increase the degree of freedom available to medical personnel (eg, doctors, nurses, physicians, etc.) using the first medical devices 310a-310d.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an example network topology illustrating interconnection between a first medical device and a server via an information network without an intervening second medical device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram that represents. According to this alternative embodiment of the present invention, one or more medical devices 410a-410e may be located in various medical rooms 405a-405e of a hospital or other medical facility. The medical devices 410a-410e can be moved or fixed in the medical rooms 405a-405e where they are located. The medical devices 410a-410e may connect to the hospital and / or medical information system server 460 via the information network 450. Information system server 460 may include, for example, a server computer 465 that includes a processor (not shown), memory (not shown), and one or more storage devices 470. The information system can host all or part of a hospital and / or medical information system (ie, software and data not shown).

  The exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 is a surgical instrument that is connected directly to server 460 via information network 450 without the use of a second intervening medical device such as a remote console. And / or first medical devices 410a-410e, such as accessory devices. The means for connecting the medical devices 410a to 410e to the information network 450 and the server 460 is the same as the means to which the second medical devices 315a to 315d are connected as discussed in FIG. The medical device 410c may have a fixed wiring connection 435 directly from the medical room 405c to the information network 450. The medical device 410b may also have a separable wired connection 430, where a cable or other wire is separably connected to the medical device 410b and may be separably connected to the connection port 400 located in the medical room 405b. . The connection port 400 can be fixedly wired to the information network 450. The medical devices 410a, 410d-410e may also have a wireless connection 425, 440, 450 with the information network 450 and the server 460. The medical device 410a may have a transceiver (not shown) embedded to transmit and receive wireless signals. The medical device 410a may communicate with a transceiver 420 located in the medical room 405a via a wireless link 425. The transceiver 420 can be fixedly wired to the information network 450. A medical device 410d having an embedded transceiver (not shown) may also communicate with another transceiver (not shown) connected to the information network 450 via the wireless connection of the wireless link 440. Here, this transceiver (not shown) is not located in the same medical room 405d. A medical device 410e having a transceiver (not shown) may also establish a wireless connection 445 directly with the server 460 by a transceiver (not shown) connected to the server computer 465.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the first medical device (eg, surgical instrument and / or accessory device) is a second medical device (eg, a remote console) and a combination of the embodiments described in FIGS. Can connect to both of the servers. For example, a first medical device (eg, a surgical staple) can be connected to a remote console using a wired connection (ie, cable). The same first medical device may also connect directly with the server using a wireless communication link. The communication link is configured such that the transceiver of the first medical device transmits and / or receives radio signals with a second transceiver located at the same medical room, elsewhere on the information network, or at the server. Can be established.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the data collected and / or determined by the medical device may include, for example, a medical device serial number, device and / or accessory device type identifier data, and / or usage data. . In another embodiment of the invention, other types of data may be collected and / or determined by the medical device in conjunction and / or alternatively. This data can be collected and / or determined by the first and / or second medical device and sent to the server described above. Depending on the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the transfer of collected and / or determined medical data may be performed interactively in real time. Real-time data transfer may involve the transmission of data as the data is collected and / or determined. In another embodiment of the invention, the transfer of data can be performed periodically, where the data is transferred from the medical device to the server at certain intervals. For example, the medical device may be configured to transfer batch data at certain predetermined intervals, pre-programmed (eg, when certain threshold limits are reached), and / or at random intervals.

  In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the collected and / or determined medical data may be transferred to a central repository as shown in FIGS. A central repository may be one or more databases in which data is stored. One or more databases at the central repository may be distinct from databases used in other hospitals and / or medical information systems in one embodiment of the invention. This different integrated medical device database (“integrated information system”) can centrally manage medical data transmitted from one or more various medical devices to the server. According to this embodiment, the hospital and / or medical information system server (ie, server) may also be different from the server that hosts other hospital and / or medical information systems. Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the integrated information system may use a distributed information system, for example, at a portion of a depot that extends across multiple servers, rather than a centralized depot.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the medical device data is not initially integrated into a separate integrated information system, but instead of another existing hospital and / or medical information system table such as a patient information system and / or Or it can be integrated directly into the file. According to this embodiment, the medical device can be directly integrated with one or more hospital information systems via a data transmission interface. This interface may be a software program or program element residing on the medical device, on the server, and / or elsewhere on the information network.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the collected and / or determined medical data may instead be forwarded to intermediate decentralized depots such as departmental depots. According to this alternative embodiment, a department or group of departments in a hospital and / or other healthcare provider may have a separate server and integrated information system. Medical device data for devices belonging to this department or group of departments is transmitted to each distributed (ie, department-specific) integrated information system. Information from these departmental integrated information systems can either be further integrated into a centralized integrated information system, or directly integrated into other hospital and medical information systems.

  The medical device data may be sent directly to the hospital and / or medical information system, whether it is first sent to a centralized integrated information system or a distributed clinical department integrated information system, according to various embodiments of the present invention. Regardless of whether it is transmitted, it may ultimately be integrated with a hospital and / or medical information system according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, a patient information system and medical device data that can be stored and used in a patient's electronic record with detailed information about the medical device used and details of use for the patient may be integrated. For example, this information can also be used to more fully assess treatment, determine the cause of medical complications, or for billing purposes.

  In another embodiment, the billing information system and the medical device data may be integrated, where detailed information about the medical device and its use can be used to determine the total bill amount and can be included in the billing statement. For example, the bill or specification may include a specific failure of device use or a treatment administered based in whole or in part on provided medical device data. This information can also be sent to the insurance provider for the patient and can be part of an insurance information system maintained by the hospital and / or other healthcare providers. For example, automatic collection of medical data can help insurance providers obtain more detailed information about patient treatment, and hospitals and / or other medical services to process information for insurance reporting. The amount of time required by the provider can be reduced.

  For example, medical device data may also be used as part of an accounting information system for tracking the use of medical devices, the revenue earned from use, and associated costs. For example, the medical device data may be used to determine the depreciation of the medical device based on an estimated number of times that the medical device can be used before it needs to be replaced. In this example above, the medical device data is used to track the use of the medical device for the sole possible financial and / or accounting purpose. In addition, medical device data can be used to determine financial information such as revenue generated by use or peripheral revenue from use of a medical device. Medical device data can also help hospitals and / or other health care providers determine the profitability of certain facilities and procedures, and can support a more equitable price for such services. The medical device data can also be useful in calculating costs due to use, costs around the use, and other data related costs.

  An FDA tracking and / or monitoring information system that uses information to provide the necessary FDA information for assessing the effectiveness of the device and / or treatment, or for other statistical and / or reporting purposes; Medical device data can also be integrated.

  The asset management system and medical device data may also be integrated using medical device usage information to calculate and schedule medical device maintenance and replacement, thereby avoiding the mess of overuse of medical devices. In this regard, medical device data is also used to notify the administrator that certain medical devices (eg, disposable accessory devices) need to be reordered if they fall below a certain inventory level. obtain. In another embodiment, medical device data may also be used as part of an automated ordering system that automatically issues orders for medical devices (eg, disposable surgical accessory devices).

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example network topology representing interconnection between medical devices, hospitals and / or medical information systems and servers, and automated ordering systems and servers, according to one embodiment of the invention. is there. FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which at least one medical device 510a, 510b, 515 in a provider's medical room 505a, 505b provides data to the information system server 540, as discussed above. Represent. In one medical room 505a, the first medical device 510a may be connected to a second medical device 515, such as a remote console. The second medical device 515 can be connected to the transceiver 520 in the room 505a via a wireless connection 525, which itself connects to the hospital and / or healthcare provider information network 535, for example, with fixed wiring. obtain. In the second medical room 505b, the first medical device 510b is connected to the hospital and / or healthcare provider information network 535 by a separable wired link 530. In this exemplary embodiment, the wired link is detachably connected to both the first medical device 505b and the connection port 500 in the room. The connection port 500 can be fixedly wired to the healthcare provider information network 535. Medical device data may be transmitted via the medical information network 535 to an information system server 540 that includes at least one of a computer 545 and a storage device 550. Data is stored in one or more information systems on the storage device 550 of the server 540.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a hospital and / or health care provider information system may include an inventory management system and / or an order entry system in whole or in part. As described above, medical device data may be used to track the status and / or inventory of a particular medical device, such as a surgical accessory. An order can be issued via an external information network 560, such as the Internet, for example, when it is necessary to replace a new medical device and / or when the inventory on hand falls below a certain threshold limit. The order can be issued at another server 570 that can be stored on the storage device 580 of the server 570 and includes a supplier inventory ordering system (not shown) that runs on the computer 575 of the server 570.

  According to the present invention, the entire inventory tracking process can be greatly automated. If necessary, this automation can be extended from automatic generation of medical device data and its automatic transmission to a healthcare provider information system to automatic ordering of inventory. In one embodiment of the present invention, automation of the inventory management and / or ordering process eliminates or significantly reduces the need for human intervention in this process.

  Also, according to the present invention, a healthcare provider information system such as a hospital and / or medical information system server 540 can receive software via an information network 560 such as the Internet. For example, the operating software used by the hospital and / or medical information system server 540 that processes medical device data received by the server from medical devices such as the medical devices 510a, 510b, via the Internet, and the hospital and It may be received by the medical information system server 540 or otherwise the hospital and / or medical information system server 540 may receive such operating software updates over the Internet. In this way, the software used by the hospital and / or medical information system server 540 that processes medical device data received by the server from the medical device may be modified periodically if desired.

  The exemplary hospitals and / or other medical information systems described above that can integrate medical device data are merely exemplary. A real hospital and / or other medical information system can include many aspects of several examples discussed individually above, and can include additional features where integrated medical device data can be particularly advantageous. . For example, a single hospital and / or medical information system may include the ability to report with patient, billing, and insurance information. Those skilled in the art will recognize that medical device data may be automatically electronically integrated with various types of hospitals and / or other medical information systems.

Claims (1)

Invention described in this specification.

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